Heated receptacle



Jan. 3, 1939. s. H. BINDER HEATED RECEPTACLE Filed Oct. 28, 1936 233W GWh WI eu m Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEATED RECEPTACLE Gottfried H. Binder, Orange, N. J. Application October 28, 1936, Serial No. 108,071 11 Claims. ((31. 219-45) This invention relates to warming devices and deals particularly with that class of warming device utilizing electricity as its source of heat energy.

Among the objects of the invention it is proposed to provide a receptacle in which food stufls may be placed in cold or freezing weather, electric heating means being provided to maintain the temperature of the receptacle above freezing.

Another object of this invention is to provide a heating means in which the heat of the interior of the receptacle can be regulated within certain limits.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction in the receptacle whereby convection currents are established and circulated through the interior of the receptacle.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention a receptacle is provided, adapted to receive food stuffs, such as dairy products, which are normally delivered in the very early morning hours by the dairyman. In the winter, when the temperatures are very low and often below freezing, between the time'at which produce is delivered and the time it is taken indoors by the customer, a number of hours have elapsed, during which time the produce has had ample time to freeze, with resultant possible damage, breakage and inconvenience. It is one purpose of this invention to provide a box which will properly protect such produce against injurious effects produced by freezing,

Describing the details of a preferred embodiment mentioned more specifically, a casing is provided having a hinged top, the whole being made of material having some degree of heat insulating properties. In the bottom portion of the casing a hinged platform is provided, which is vertically movable at the edge opposite the hinged edge within a certain range of movement. This platform is adapted to receive the produce delivered by the dairyman and the weight of such produce depresses the movable platform against the action of one or more spring members which tend to maintain the free edge of the platform somewhat elevated above the position it assumes when produce is deposited thereon, this gravity actuated platform controlling the opening and closing of the heating circuit.

As the heating element of my invention, I make use of the conventional electric light bulb operating on the usual household lighting circuit and for this purpose I provide a plurality of lamp sockets s placed within the casing as to conveniently receive said bulbs. These sockets are p e ab y w d in pa a el to each ot er a d a lead-in cable is introduced through one wall of the casing.

It is a well known fact that energy from a. source such as lighted electric light bulbs placed in a closed container, creates convection currents as well as radiant and reflected heat.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention I have introduced a vertical partition between said electric light bulbs and that part of the casing which serves as the receptacle for the food stuiIs, for the purpose of superinducing these convection currents and making them more effective.

It will be observed that this partition in the form shown in the drawing, is spaced at its upper and lower edges away from the top and bottom of the casing respectively so that the air currents may flow below and above the partition with a chimney-like efiect; the ends of the partition may also be spaced away from the side walls of the casing, if desired, for giving further freedom of movement to the air in the receptacle. It will be observed also that this partition serves to protect the electric light bulbs from accidental damage.

In place of a vertical partition, I may surround each or all of the lamps with a chimney made of glass, metal or other suitable material, for the same purpose, 1. e. the superinduction of the convection currents. It should be understood that while in the preferred form of my device,

I use a partition for the purpose specified, I do not limit myself to such a construction, for even without a partition or chimney, the radiant and reflected heat will serve to accomplish the ob- Jects of my invention but with less effectiveness due to the absence of convected air currents.

A switch member is provided within the casing, the same being normally open when the casing is not in use but when produce is placed within 0 the casing, the switch is adapted to be automatically closed. The closing of the switch is accomplished by suitable connections extending between the switch and the gravity or weight-actuated platform, whereby depression of the platform serves to close the switch and complete the circuit through the lamp bulbs which, in turn, provide the source of heat for the casing. The unhinged end of the platform is spring-supported upwardly, and when the produce is removed from the casing, the spring raises the free end of the platform and opens the switch member, thus breaking the circuit through the bulbs. As shown in the drawing, the switch is placed near the top of the receptacle, for keeping it away from any water or snow that might accumulate in the lower part of the receptacle; the switch .colder days, two or perhaps three bulbs would be necessary to provide suflicient temperature to maintain the interior of the casing above freezing. The utilization of the heat from one or a plurality of bulbs is easily accomplished by simply screwing or unscrewing the requisite number of bulbs into contact in the respective socket of each bulb. This is made possible by the bulb sockets being connected in parallel to each other.

The casing which, for purposes of inexpensive manufacture, is preferably made of wood, may, however, be made of other suitable materials, such as molded asbestos, spaced metal walls having dead air spaces between the same produced by metal foil or other insulating material, molded composition insulating boards of various sorts such as Celotex, or any other suitable material.

More specific details of the construction of this invention are to be found by referring to the accompanying drawing, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross section, showing a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section, taken on the 40 line 2-2 of Fig. i;

Figure 3 is a. wiring diagram; and

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of a modified construction of the invention.

Referring specifically to the drawing, a casing member I is provided which is preferably rectangular in shape in plan view but may be any other shape desired, such as round or square or modifications of either. This casing is composed of end members 2 and 3 and side members 6 and 5. A bottom member 6 is preferably fixed rigidly to the side walls and a top 1 is hinged to the upper edge of one of the side members. The upper edges of the ends and sides of the box are preferably beveled along their inner edge and an extension protruding from the under side of the top I is suitably shaped to extend into the interior cavity of the casing and abut against the beveled edges. The portion of the top which extends into the casing is beveled along the sides as shown at 8 in such a manner as to fit snugly against the beveled portions of the upper edges 9 of the sides of the casing. This provides a substantially airtight seal for the interior of the casing.

In the bottom portion of the box two strip members In and H of any suitable material are provided, strip I0 being adjacent one side wall 5 and strip ll being adjacent the opposite side wall 4. A platform [2 is hinged along one edge to the strip ID by several hinges l3. The strip l i serves as anabutment or stop member upon which the opposite edge of the platform l2 rests in one position. One or more spring members are provided to maintain the unhinged edge of the platform in elevated position. The spring ii is a compression type spring. while the spring II is a tension type spring, the former tending to push the edge of the platform upwardly, the latter tending to pull it upwardly. One or the other of these springs may be eliminated, if desired.

A partition member is provided, which preferably extends lengthwise of the casing and is joined at its ads to the end members 2 and 3 of the casing. In a modified construction of mounting the partition, the ends of the same may be spaced from the end walls 2 and 3, the partition being supported in this event by bracket members or other suitable supporting means extending from any of the sidesof the casing or from the base thereof. This partition may be of any suitable material such as wood, glass, etc., and the height of the same is such that ample space is provided between the upper edge of the partition and the top of the casing and the lower edge of the partition and the bottom of the casing so that currents of air may freely and readily pass through such spaces thus provided.

Between the partition 20 and the side wall 5 of the casing a shelf-like member 2| is aifixed, the side edges of the same being amply spaced from the partition and the -wall of the casing to allow air currents to pass freely through such spaces thus provided. Mounted on the member 2| are a plurality of conventional electric bulb sockets 23 which are connected in parallel by suitable wiring 21 and 28 to each other and to a lead-in wire 25 which is introduced to the interior of the casing through an insulated bushing 26 located in the side 5 of the casing i. In

- another embodiment of the invention, however,

the sockets may be mounted directly on the bottom member 8 in any convenient manner and the shelf 2| may be eliminated in this event. Suitable incandescent electric bulbs 24 are screwed into each of the sockets 23, the same being the source of heat for the casing. The bulbs 24 may be the elongated type as shown in Fig. 1 or the same may be the ordinary conventional substantially spherical or pear-shaped bulbs diagrammatically illustrated at 24' in Fig. 3. The lead-in wire 28, before being connected to the bulb sockets, is connected to one contact member of a switch 30 which is preferably provided in the upper portion of the casing and maybe attached for instance to one of the side members but, as shown in Figure 1, the switch is conveniently located near one end and on the top edge of the partition 20. In another construction of the device, the switch member may be attached to the underside of platform l2, and suitably connected to the circuit such as by flexible lead wires. A switch so located might be operated by means of a spring-pressed plunger contacting the bottom of the casing when the platform is lowered.

The switch member, however, in the embodi ment illustrated, is of any suitable spring contact type wherein two spring leaf-like members are normally out of contact with each other. Under normal conditions the switch is maintained open and the contact points are out of engagement with each other. Pressure upon one of the elements, however, causes the contact points to engage and thus complete the circuit through the switch. The wiring passes from the second contact member to the first of the bulb sockets 23 whereby when the switch is closed current may flow through this or any number of the bulb sockets provided in the structure and back through wire 21, to complete the circuit.

The switch member is preferably located in the upper portion of the box, and any possibility of short-circuiting of the switch will be substantially, if not entirely, eliminated in the event moisture should at any time accumulate in the lower portion of the casing.

The closing of the switch is accomplished by a rod-like member 32 which is guided along one wall of the partition in suitable guides 33, the lower end of the rod 32 being connected by a hinge member 34 or any other suitable means to the hinged platform l2. When an article of produce, such as a bottle of milk 36, is placed on the platform II, the action of the spring members H and I8 is overcome, whereby the free edge of the platform is lowered, thus in turn lowering the rod 32, the upper'end of which engages the uppermost contact of the switch member, thus closing the switch 30 by bringing the contact points into engagement and, in turn, lighting one or more of the electric light bulbs, depending upon how many have been screwed into contact in theirrespective sockets.

The present embodiment of the invention contemplates the use of the conventional elongated shaped electric light bulbs such as shown in Figure 1. The purpose of this is to utilize as little space as necessary for the heating compartment of the casing. However, the use of ordinary conventional shaped bulbs such as are most popularly used is likewise within the contemplation of this invention. A shorter and wider bulb could be made just as accessible as the elongated bulbs shown at present by placing the support strip 6 higher in the casing or by spacing the partition 20 sufficiently from the side of the casing to permit ready access to the bulbs.

The rod-like member 32 is shown at present as being an integral member but it is also contemplated within the scope of this invention to have the same extensible or telescopic for varying its effective length, whereby proper contact with the upper contact member l2 is always assured.

It is readily seen that since the bulbs 24 are connected in parallel, one or a number of the same may be screwed into contact in therespective socket of each so that different ranges of temperature may be produced in the casing.

When one or more of the bulbs is lit, it will readily be seen fromj'igure 1 that heated air arising from the upper portion of the bulb will pass upwardly until it is deflected by the top I of the casing over the top of the partition 26 and thence downwardly into the portion of the casing containing the produce, around beneath the lower edge of the partition 20 and up past the bulbs again for re-heating. This will insure steady, eilicient and inexpensive warming of the produce deposited in the casing and thus save the produce from suifering any ill effects due to freezing.

It is contemplated by the instant invention to produce a container of this nature at a very nominal cost to fill a long wanted need, particularly in the larger cities where regular dairy routes are well established and where in winter time, as is so commonly experienced, many bottles of milk are frozen by the time it is taken indoors by the consumers due to the fact that several hours time have elapsed between the time it is taken indoors and the time it is left by the dairyman. Not only is the milk, for instance, often frozen, whereby great inconvenience is experienced by the consumer before he can use the same, due to the fact that the frozen milk has to be allowed to melt, but many times the glass milk bottle is burst due to the freezing and in such situations the milk is a total loss.

The casing is of a readily portable nature whereby it might be placed on or hung by appropriate means near the door step at night and the lead-in wire 25 is adapted to be connected to any convenient and suitable source of current. The construction is of a fool-proof nature, whereby when a bottle of milk, for instance, is placed on the platform 12, the circuit is completed through the switch member, thus lighting the bulb or bulbs and the heating of the interior of the casing begins. Immediately upon the removal of the milk bottle, springs l1 and [8 are brought into play to raise the free edge of the platform, thus disconnecting the switch and discontinuing the circuit through the bulbs. The construction is such that the mechanical details are few and simple, thereby eliminating any complicated mechanism which might readily become disordered, such as thermostats, etc. The construction is sturdy in nature and can be made so inexpensively that every household could readily be provided with one and by moderately careful use the device will last many seasons without replacement or repair except an occasional replacement of a burned-out electric bulb. Since the bulbs would be lighted only a very few hours each day and then only when the weather is very cold, the cost of the operation of this box would be negligible. The savings in unspoiled food willbe many times greater than the operating expense. The lid of the casing may also be provided with a lock, if desired, to prevent thefts.

While a preferred embodiment of my invention describes and illustrates the use of a partition member 26 to produce convection currents of air within the closed container, it is further contemplated to use a construction similar to that shown in sectional elevation in Figure 4, either in conjunction with or as a substitute for the partition member 20. In this modified construction a chimney-like cylindrical element 36 is constructed to surround the lamp 24, the same being supported by depending arms or bracket members 31 which may be fastened to the lower end of the chimney member such as by rivets 38 or any other suitable means. Obviously this chimney need not be cylindrical in form but may be of any other geometrical shape in cross section.

The lower end of these members 31 may be secured to opposite sides of the shelf-like member II by nails 33 or any other suitable means. If the chimney 'member 36 is used in conjunction with the partition 20, the switch member 30 and operating means'32, etc., may be conveniently constructed as shown. However, if the chimney member 36 is to be substituted in the case of each lamp for the, partition member 20, the switch member 30 may be supported either from the most convenient chimney member 36 or the switch may be supported by means of a suitable bracket mounted on the side 3 of the casing or the switch may be directly mounted to the side 3. It will readily be seen that such a chimney construction as shown in Figure 4 will efficiently induce convection currents of air to be established within the closed container and thus insure a more uniformly warmed box than would be possible without the use of such a chimney structure. In connection with the modified construction shown in Figure 4, it is also contemplated within the purview of this invention that the depending arms or bracket members 31 may be so mounted with respect to the shelf-like member 2! that the chimney 36 and the brackets may be readily detachable therefrom, such as by providing a spring finger-like construction on the lower end of each member 31 by slotting the member 31 longitudinally from the free end thereof, the slot also either terminating in or having somewhere in its length an enlarged portion on one or both sides of the slot adapted to receive the shaft of the nail or screw elements 39. By this construction, if it were desired to form the chimney 36 so that the same did not have much clearance between its inner wall and the bulb 24, when it was desired to replace the bulb 24 the same might be readily accomplished by first quickly removing the chimney 36 by simply pulling upwardly on the same. Similarly, the chimney 36 might be readily replaced by simply pressing downwardly so as to force the spring arms on the members 31 apart to surround the nails or screws 39 with a snapping action.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that the same is not to be limited by the instant disclosure but it is intended to cover any embodiments in other devices having other structural characteristics and arrangements, all within the purview of the invention.

I claim: I

1. A warming box comprising a casing and lid therefor, a movable platform in the bottom. portion of said casing adapted to receive articles to be placed thereon, a switch, member operable by movement of said platform, an incandescent electric bulb situated in said casing adapted to be operated by said switch, a vertically arranged partition extending between two opposite sides 7 of said casing, the upper and lower edges of said partition being spaced from the top and bottom of said casing, and separating said bulb from the remainder of said casing, whereby convection currents are set up flowing around said partition, and a wiring circuit connecting said switch and bulb to a source of current.

2. A warming box comprising a casing and lid therefor, a movable platform in the bottom portion of said casing adapted to receive articles to be placed thereon, a switch member situated in the upper portion of said casing and operable by movement of said platform, an incandescent electric bulb situated in said casing adapted to be operated by said switch, a vertically arranged partition extending between two opposite sides of said casing, the upper and lower edges of said partition being spaced from the top and bottom of said casing, and separating said bulb from the remainder of said casing whereby convection currents are set up flowing around said partition, and a wiring circuit connecting said switch and bulb to a source of current.

'- 3. A warming box comprising a casing and lid therefor, a movable platform in the bottom portion of said casing adapted to receive articles to be placed thereon, a switch member operable by said platform, a plurality of incandescent electric bulbs situated in said casing and controlled by said switch, a vertically arranged partition, extending between two opposite sides of said casing, the upper and lower edges of said partition being spaced from the top and bottom of said casing, and separating said bulbs from the remainder of said casing whereby convection currents are set up flowing around said partition,

and a wiring circuit connecting said switch and bulbs to a source of current.

4. A warming box comprising a casing and being spaced from the top and bottom of said casing, and separating said bulbs from the remainder of said casing whereby convection currents are set up flowing around said partition, and a wiring circuit connecting said switch and bulbs to a source of current.

5. A warming box comprising a casing and lid therefor, a movable platform in the bottom portion of said casing adapted to receive articles to be placed thereon, a switch member situated in the upper portion of said casing and operable by said platform, a plurality of incandescent electric bulbs situated in said casing adapted to be operated by said switch, a vertically arranged partition extending between two opposite sides of said casing, the upper andlower edges of said partition being spaced from the top and bottom of said casing, and separating said bulbs from the remainder of said casing whereby convection currents are set up flowing around said partition, and a wiring circuit connecting said switch and bulbs to a source of current.

6. A warming box comprising a casing and lid therefor, a movable platform in the bottom portion of said casing adapted to receive articles to be placed thereon, a switch member operable by movement of said platform, a plurality of incandescent electric bulbs situated in said casing and controlled by said switch, a vertically arranged means adapted to separate the area of the box in the vicinity of the electric bulbs from the remainder of the box, wherein the articles received are located, whereby convection currents are set up flowing around said vertically arranged means, and a wiring circuit connecting said switch and bulbs to a source of current.

7. A warming box comprising a casing and lid therefor, a movable platform in the bottom portion of said casing adapted to receive articles to be placed thereon, a switch member operable by the movement of said platform, a plurality of incandescent electric bulbs situated in said casing and controlled by said switch, a vertically arranged means comprising a chimney-like element surrounding each electric bulb and spaced therefrom, the upper and lower ends of said chimneylike element being spaced from the top and bottom of the casing respectively, whereby convection currents are set up flowing around the vertical walls of said chimney-like element and a wiring circuit connecting said switch and bulbs to a source of current. V

8. A warming box comprising a casing and lid therefor, a movable platform in the bottom portion of said casing, adapted to receive articles to be-placed thereon, a switch member operable by movement of said platform, an incandescent electric bulb situated in said casing adapted to be operated by said switch, a substantially vertically arranged means located adjacent the bulb and adapted to separate the area in the vicinity of the bulb from the remainder of the casing, whereby convection currents are set up flowing around said means, and a wiring circuit connecting said switch and bulb to a source of current.

9. A warming box comprising a casing and lid therefor, a movable platform in the bottom portion of said casing having an area to receive articles, a switch member operable by movement of said platform and an incandescent electric bulb situated in said casing at a level above the platform and adapted to be operated by said switch, a partition between said bulb and area and arranged above the platform at a substantial angle to the horizontal so as to permit convection currents to be set up flowing around the same, and a wiring circuit connecting said switch and bulb to a source of current.

10. A warming box comprising a casing and lid therefor, a movable platform in the bottom portion of said casing adapted to receive articles to be placed thereon, a switch member operable by movement of said platform, an incandescent electric bulb situated in said casing and controlled by said switch, a substantially vertically arranged means adapted to separate the area of the easing surrounding said electric bulb from the remainder of the box, whereby convection currents are adapted to be set up flowing around said substantially vertically arranged means, and a wiring circuit connecting said switch and bulb to a source of current.

11. A warming box comprising a casing and lid therefor, a platform located in the bottom portion of said casing and hinged along one side to the casing, the opposite side of said platform being spring supported whereby when articles, such as a bottle of milk, are received by said platform, the latter spring supported edge of the platform is depressed, a switch member situated in the upper portion of said casing and a connecting member extending between said switch and platform, whereby raising and lowering of said platform respectively opens and closes said switch, a

plurality of incandescent electric bulbs supported in conventional threaded sockets arranged along one side of said casing, a vertically arranged partition arranged between opposite parallel sides of said casing, the upper and lower edges of said partition being spaced from the bottom and top of said casing whereby convection currents of air are caused to pass around said partition, past said bulbs and into the remainder of the box, a wiring circuit connecting said lamps in parallel, and in circuit with said switch, and a suitable source of current, whereby one or several bulbs may be connected or disconnected by screwing or unscrewing them into contact in their supporting sockets, depending on the degree of heat desired to be generated.

GOTI'FRIED H. BINDER. 

